TMNT 2--No "Cowabunga"?

[SilverKnight]

Okay, I'm asking this on behalf of my brother in law, who apparently has been wracking his brain over this question to the point where he's been bugging me incessentally about finding out why. Evidently, while playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus on his X-Box, he was playing Michaelangelo, and eventually, the turtle said, "Cowabunga--oops, forgot I can't say that anymore!" Now, my--or rather, his--question is, why can't Mikey say 'cowabunga'? This might be better off in the General Animated thread, but given that this curiosity arose from a game, I suppose I could just as easily file it here.

Wow, lots of big words from me. Wee! :D Anyway, yeah, anyone know why Mikey isn't allowed to say the Turtles' prized catchphrase? He won't shut up until I find out why, and I've already tried looking (though, admittedly, half-heartedly, but yeah). Thanks in advance.

[Behonkiss]

The creators of TMNT 2k2 have said that the turtles would have a few differences, so that they would be more like the comic and movie versions than the original toon. Hence stuff like the more mature look, Raph's increased brashness, and the loss of Cowabunga- though Mikey still says it occasionally as an injoke (i.e. starting to yell it before jumping down a pipe in the pilot, but Raph shoving him before he can finish).

[Dark Fact]

Peter Laird really wants to downplay the use of the word to avoid any big similarities between the old and new toon....but it doesn't mean he'll eliminate it entirely! ;)

[guerillacropoli]

What does cowabunga mean, anyway? Is it a Japanese word?

[JetMaster5]

As far as I know, in the old TMNT, Michaelangelo used to say "Cowabunga" before the team goes to fight. And then it became a famous catchphrase used in TMNT products, such as posters, action figures....

Cowabunga doesn't mean anything.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

What does cowabunga mean, anyway? Is it a Japanese word?
It's surfer talk dude.

[fuchikoma]

Main Entry: cowabunga
Part of Speech: interjection
Definition: an exclamation of delight or satisfaction
Etymology: from Chief Thunderthud on the Howdy Doody Show1

[Lord Dalek]

I really don't care. The new series is sticking to the comics continuity so stuff like absence of "Cowabunga" is pointless.